List of Presidents of Dominica: Past and Present

Last updated November 2026

This page lists the presidents and heads of state of Dominica from 1978 to the present, with the years each leader was in office and a short summary of their time in power. Use it to find the current president of Dominica, former leaders, and key dates in the country's political history.

Current president of Dominica: Sylvanie Burton (in office since 2023). Dominica became independent in 1978 as a parliamentary republic. The president is a ceremonial head of state elected by Parliament for a five-year term, renewable once, and executive power rests with the prime minister. The 1979–1980 acting president is labelled.

Presidents of Dominica in order, with years in office

Louis Cools-Lartigue

Served: 1978–1979

Held the office from independence on 3 November 1978 until Fred Degazon took over on 16 January 1979; he also acted for one day in June 1979.

Fred Degazon

Served: 1979–1980

Elected by Parliament in 1978 and in office from 16 January 1979; he left Dominica on 11 June 1979, and others acted for him until his term ended in early 1980.

Jenner Armour

Served: 1979–1980

Acting president from June 1979 until Aurelius Marie took office in February 1980.

Aurelius Marie

Served: 1980–1983

Elected in 1980 and served until December 1983.

Clarence Seignoret

Served: 1983–1993

Elected in 1983 and re-elected in 1988; served nearly ten years and was knighted in 1985.

Crispin Sorhaindo

Served: 1993–1998

Served one term from October 1993 to October 1998.

Vernon Shaw

Served: 1998–2003

Served one term from October 1998 to October 2003.

Nicholas Liverpool

Served: 2003–2012

Elected in 2003 and re-elected in 2008; served until September 2012.

Eliud Williams

Served: 2012–2013

Elected in 2012 and served about a year until October 2013.

Charles Savarin

Served: 2013–2023

Elected in 2013 and re-elected in 2018; served the maximum two terms.

Sylvanie Burton

Served: 2023–present

Elected by Parliament on 27 September 2023 and sworn in on 2 October 2023 as the first woman and the first Kalinago president of Dominica.

Frequently asked questions about the presidents of Dominica

Who is the current president of Dominica?

The current president of Dominica is Sylvanie Burton, in office since 2023. Dominica became independent in 1978 as a parliamentary republic. The president is a ceremonial head of state elected by Parliament for a five-year term, renewable once, and executive power rests with the prime minister. The 1979–1980 acting president is labelled.

Who were the previous presidents of Dominica?

The presidents and heads of state of Dominica listed on this page, in order, are: Louis Cools-Lartigue, Fred Degazon, Jenner Armour, Aurelius Marie, Clarence Seignoret, Crispin Sorhaindo, Vernon Shaw, Nicholas Liverpool, Eliud Williams, Charles Savarin, Sylvanie Burton.

Who was the first president of Dominica?

Louis Cools-Lartigue was the first president of Dominica, in office 1978–1979.

Sources: Wikipedia, List of presidents of Dominica and Sylvanie Burton; Office of the President of Dominica, Government of Dominica and Caribbean press reports (checked Nov 2026). Complete list of presidents since independence on 3 November 1978, including the acting presidents of 1978–1980.. Last reviewed November 2026.

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